The State of College Sports

Taking a midweek break from the Bengals and Reds allows me to grace you with my thoughts on the big-business, money-making machine known as college sports. 

The top football programs in the country more resemble a corporation than an extracurricular activity with the head coach serving as the CEO of the company.  Being an athlete-student (yes, I switched it) is a full-time job.  Anyone who thinks otherwise is kidding themselves.

Should coaches make the big bucks?

The University of Texas awarded their head football coach a $2 million raise, making him the highest paid college football coach in the country.  Mack Brown will make $5.1 million this year , 44 times the pay of Governor Rick Perry.

Many people at the university are not happy about the situation.  David Hillis, a professor at Texas, said that money spent on athletics "is destroying higher education in America."

Child please.

All of Brown's compensation comes from money generated by the athletic department, which totaled $87.5 million in 2008. 

How much money did the biology department generate?  I seriously doubt there were ticket scalpers roaming the streets around the chemistry lab.  I have yet to see a lab coat with a professor's name stitched on the front flying off the shelves at the university book store.

Do athletes deserve to be paid?

Being a college athlete is a full-time job.  Athlete-students generate millions of dollars for universities.  Please don't tell me that a free education is compensation for their efforts. The purpose of college is to prepare you for life and give you the tools and knowledge necessary to be successful.

If a kid has the talent to potentially play professional football, why should he be forced to sit in a useless class?  Allow athletes to major in their respective sport.  They can be given the option to minor in a related area such as coaching or business.  If junior year rolls around and professional aspirations are fading away, allow the athlete to continue playing and take classes instead of monetary compensation.

The NCAA already regulates practice times.  Make a standard rate of pay for college athletes.  Give the kids a little pocket money and maybe they wouldn't be inclined to accept a $50 handshake from the next shady booster that is looming around the corner.

I don't mean to keep ripping to the scientists, but I can't remember the last time I saw an Ohio State Bunsen burner for sale on eBay.

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